Tigers select Ruck twins with pair of first round picks

By James Tubb on May 11, 2023.

The Medicine Hat Tigers added a goalscorer with the ninth overall pick in the Western Hockey League prospects draft.

The Tigers selected 15-year-old forward Liam Ruck from the Okanagan Hockey Academy U15 team in the CSSHL. The 5-foot-11 Ruck had 53 goals and 90 points in 27 games for Okanagan.

“We’re excited to have Liam as part of our prospect pool here,” Fox said. “He’s an exciting goal scorer, dynamic. The one thing that you can’t discount, this guy is one of the smartest players in the draft. He has a knack for the net and he knows how to score, he wants the puck on his stick when the game is on the line.”

“We want to play fast and we like to score goals and that’s what Liam does, so it’s a no brainer.”

Ruck has a twin brother Markus who also suited up for Okanagan this season, Markus had 22 goals and 87 points in 27 games.

The Tigers made a trade with the Saskatoon Blades for the 21st overall pick. Medicine Hat sent the Blades their second round pick (29th overall), their fifth round selection (97th) and a 2024 second round pick.

With the 21st pick the Tigers selected the 5-foot-10 Markus Ruck, uniting the two brothers in the orange and black.

“This is exciting for the Medicine Hat Tigers, you can’t have one brother-in-law’s without the other,” Fox said. “They’re both unbelievable players, Markus his vision, his skill and their chemistry is second to none.”

“Markus is the setup guy, they have an uncanny ability to find each other on the ice. They can’t be separated, they are almost one guy in essence.”

Third round

With the 53rd pick in the draft the Tigers picked right shot defenceman Koray Bozkaya from the Yale Hockey Academy U15 prep team. The 6-foot-2 Maple Ridge, B.C. product had 10 goals and 20 points in 24 games this season.

Sixth round

With the 119th pick in the WHL draft, the Tigers stayed with the Yale Hockey Academy and selected forward Brayden Ryan-Mackay. The 5-foot-5 Calgary product had 28 goals and 50 points in 28 games.

Just eight picks later the Tigers selected defenceman Riley Steen from the OHA U15 prep team. The 5-foot-11 Ladysmith, B.C. product had six goals and 36 points in 26 games.

Seventh round

With the 141st pick in the WHL draft the Tigers drafted Sutton Verot from the Regina Pat Blues U15AA.

The 5-foot-9 Regina product had 32 goals and 57 points in 27 games for the Blues.

Eighth round

With the 159th pick, Medicine Hat drafted forward Avery Watson from the Edmonton KC U15AAA Squires.

The 5-foot-11 Edmonton product had 24 goals and 52 points in 34 games for the U15 club.

Ninth round

In the ninth round with the 185th overall, the Tigers selected forward Liam Chartrand from the Pilot Mound HA U15 prep team.

The 5-foot-10 Winnipegosis, MB product had 15 goals and 34 points in 27 games for Pilot Mound.

10th Round

Using the 20th pick of the draft, the Tigers selected defenceman Tafari Chingwaru from the Edmonton MLAC U15AAA.

The 5-foot-10 Edmonton product had four goals and 24 points in 33 games this season at the U15AAA level.

11th Round

With their 11th round, 229th pick the Medicine Hat Tigers selected forward Matyas Fischer from the Los Angeles Jr. Kings U14 team.

The 5-foot-10 California product had seven goals and 23 points in 31 games at the U14 level.

12th round

The first Medicine Hat product is draft with defenceman Theron Bensler going to the Lethbridge Hurricanes 256th overall.

This story will be updated throughout the day with the Tigers draft selections.

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